Early Quadriceps Wasting after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Young Adults: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee that requires surgical intervention. The weakness of quadriceps muscle is a sequele of ACL tear that can persist even after reconstruction. Muscle wasting if identified in early postoperative period can help to formulate structured protocols for rehabilitation that can help patient to recover. Best available method for scan of the same includes Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scan, but it is neither accessible nor affordable to masses of population. Aim: To evaluate the quadriceps thickness using an easily available modality i.e., Ultrasonography (USG) and thigh circumference to detect early wasting. Materials and Methods: This prospective longitudinal study was done on 48 patients between the ages of 18-45 years with ACL tear operated arthroscopically. After six months of surgery, all patients were evaluated for quadriceps thickness using USG and thigh circumference using traditional measuring tape at the same points. Paired t-test was used for evaluation of the results. Results: This study quantifies quadriceps thickness using USG at two distinct levels of the thigh and found a significant deficit of 13.05% in the involved extremity at 1/3rd of femur length from knee joint and a deficit of 11.72% in involved extremity at 2/3rd of femur length from knee joint. This study established that the quadriceps of the involved extremity definitely goes under atrophy despite early rehabilitation. Also, there was a deficit of 5.04% in thigh circumference at 1/3rd of femur length from knee joint and 4.43% at 2/3rd of femur length from knee joint in the operated limb. There was no positive correlation between both the methods. Conclusion: This study concluded that USG is an easily available and affordable method to determine quadriceps thickness and it’s wasting early in the postoperative rehabilitation phase. It can assist in establishing early vigorous rehabilitation protocols. The traditional method of measuring thigh circumference using measuring tape to quantify quadriceps muscle bulk can be misleading as its underestimates the atrophy due to various factors.